Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2)(50)

“Why would you apologize for that?”

Mazeli sighs, scratching the back of his neck. “’Cause if I had, then I could help you. I wouldn’t be so afraid.”

“It’s okay to be afraid.” I collapse the staff and attach it to my belt. “Everyone’s afraid. I’m terrified.”

My Second studies me with his big brown eyes, squinting as if I’m feeding him lies. “But you’re the Soldier of Death.”

“Jagunjagun is a myth,” I say. “What you and I are about to do is real.” He stands a full head taller than me, but I place my hands on his shoulders.

“Just stick by my side. I’ll summon Oya herself before I let anything happen to you.”

Mazeli’s smile lights up his round face. Though my words don’t take away all of his fear, his tense shoulders finally relax.

He exhales a deep breath as we make our way back to the others.

“Just know one day, it’ll be me protecting you.”

I smile at his resolve and pull at his large ears. “I look forward to it.”

Our conversation draws to a halt as we wait behind Nao. She rolls out her wrists and pulls her shaved head to the side, stretching out the lagbara tattooed down the length of her neck.

“Must you put on a show?” Khani arches her brow. Nao grins and kisses her girlfriend’s freckled cheek.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like to watch.” No one else speaks as Nao closes her eyes and spreads her arms out wide. “Omi, tutù, omi mí. Omi wá bá mi—”

The chill starts from behind, like winter’s breath kissing the back of our necks. It creeps over my shoulders and crawls down my chest as the moisture in the air cools and expands.

Within seconds the thin layer of fog around us condenses into a thick cloud of white. It makes the hairs on my neck stand up, weaving itself into the dark night.

“Slow and steady,” Amari instructs. “It has to look natural.”

Nao raises her hands and moves the blanket of fog east, spreading the white wall over the mountain’s ledge and across the bridge. I reach forward and part the trees, watching the wall of white swallow our enemies. When it’s spread far enough, Amari squeezes my shoulder.

“Let’s do this.”



* * *



TIME TICKS BY in an endless stretch. My breath hitches as I try to stay silent. By now, the fog is so thick we can’t see more than a few centimeters in front of our heads.

A small flame in Kenyon’s hand lights the path as eight of us make our way to the mountain’s edge. Kamarū and Tahir walk in the front, while Jahi, Dakarai, and Amari bring up the rear.

“Are you okay?” I whisper to Mazeli. He nods, but holds clenched fists by his sides. His eyes dart back and forth, as if at any moment a soldier will strike.

For his sake, I try to pretend every crumbling leaf and snapping branch around us doesn’t put me on edge. Jahi’s quiet incantation rings out as he manipulates the wind at our feet, creating a vacuum that allows us to walk in silence.

“Here?” Kamarū whispers.

Amari starts to answer, but her mouth clamps shut. I hold Mazeli’s hand tightly as footsteps groan along the iron bridge, only a few meters to our left.

“Go!” Amari hisses.

Kamarū and Tahir join hands. A dull green light shines from the spaces beneath their palms.

“Se ìfé inú mi—”

The chant heats the ground beneath our feet. The footsteps near as the earth starts to vibrate. Mazeli squeezes my hand and I hold him tight as we sink.

Our crooked ledge slides down the mountain in silence, a natural lift at Kamarū’s command. The further we descend, the more the fog thins, allowing us to see the green light glowing through the earth.

“Skies.” Amari releases a sigh of relief when we come to a stop halfway down the mountainside. The soldier’s footsteps fade from above, but we’re still covered by the thick blanket of fog.

Tahir’s knees buckle and he struggles to stand. Kamarū props him up, allowing his Second to lean against his iron prosthetic.

“You’re good.” Kamarū pats his back. “I can handle this.”

The Grounder steps ahead, sweat gleaming off his dark skin. He chants under his breath, releasing a slow and steady rhythm.

As his magic builds, the mountain behind us erodes, glowing grains floating by our side. I almost scream when Kamarū walks over the ledge of our cliff, but the grains swarm together, creating a step beneath his feet.

“No way…” Amari’s jaw drops when Kamarū moves again. He walks out onto the open air, the grains of earth condensing under his feet each time he moves. The glowing dirt hovers in the air like lily pads floating above water. Bit by bit, he makes his way across the divide, the floating steps taking him all the way to the other side.

“You’re next,” Tahir instructs, making the color drain from Amari’s face.

“But I’m not a Grounder,” she says.

“You don’t have to be. We’re using the incantation.”

Tahir starts to chant behind her and Amari’s hand shakes. She tests the magic by dangling her foot over the ledge, but it still summons the glowing grains.

“Skies, help me,” she curses under her breath. Step by glowing step, she walks across the divide. The grains of rock rise to catch her every time.